Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl., Rosaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  yes

Risk assessment results:  Evaluate, score: 1 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Mespilus japonica Thunb.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: pi ba

English: Japanese medlar, Japanese plum, loquat

French: bibasse, bibassier, néflier du Japon

Japanese: biwa

Maori (Cook Islands): kōta, koata

Spanish: níspero, níspero del Japón, nispolero

Tongan: loketi

Habit:  tree

Description:  "Tree up to 8 m high when mature; trunk well developed; primary stems erect; secondary stems spreading; young stems stout, white-tomentose; older stems with prominent leaf scars, becoming greyish brown and transversely calloused.  Leaves near branch tips; petiole c. 15 mm long, stout; blade oblanceolate to narrowly elliptic, 150-350-(400) x 75-100-(130) mm, acute, tapering to cuneate or slightly auriculate base, very coriaceous, ± rugose, dark green and glossy above, thinly grey- or brown-tomentose below (very young leaves completely brown-tomentose), serrate at least in upper 1/2 (sometimes obscurely); stipules long-triangular, ± attenuate, pilose.  Inflorescence of many flowers; pedicels 5-8 mm long, brownish tomentose.  Sepals fused for most of length; lobes 2-4 mm long, brown-tomentose.  Petals white or ivory, oblong, c. 7-8 x 3-4 mm, shallowly emarginate.  Fruit pyriform to broadly ellipsoid-oblong or subglobose, up to 50 x 35 mm; skin yellow, ± tomentose; flesh sweet"  (Webb et al., 1988; p. 1078).

Habitat/ecology:  Moist and wet areas up to 5000 ft. elevation. In Hawai‘i, recorded as naturalizing locally in mixed mesic forest and along roadsides in the area of Kokee State Park, Kauai (Lorence et al., 1995; p. 49). In Tonga, "cultivated for its fruit and occasionally an escape" (Yuncker, 1959; p. 127). In New Zealand, "hillsides, scrub, plantations, wasteland near sites of cultivation"  (Webb et al., 1988; p. 1078).

Propagation:  Seed, spread by birds and possibly other animals; often cultivated.

Native range:  Japan and China (Webb et al., 1988; p. 1078).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Lord Howe Island	Lord Howe Island	introduced	Pickard, J. (1984) (p. 207)
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Lord Howe Island	Lord Howe Island	introduced invasive	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1994) (p. 21) "A naturalised escape from cultivation, grown for its fruit". Voucher cited: J. Pickard 3461 (NSW)
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Norfolk Islands	Norfolk Island	introduced invasive	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1994) (p. 10) "A naturalised escape from cultivation, grown for its fruit". Vouchers cited: W.R. Sykes NI 519 (CHR), G. Uhe 1199 (K)
Chile (offshore islands) Rapa Nui (Easter) Island	Rapa Nui (Easter) Island (Isla de Pasqua)	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2008) (p. 29)
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced invasive cultivated	Atkinson, Rachel/Sawyer, John (2011)
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced cultivated	Danton, Philippe/Perrier, Christophe/Martinez Reyes, Guido (2006) (p. 553)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island	introduced	Raulerson, L. (2006) (p. 33)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. Field notes.)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. Field notes.)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1929) (voucher ID: BISH 172799) Taxon name on voucher: Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1929) (voucher ID: BISH 172800) Taxon name on voucher: Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Floreana Group	Floreana Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Isabela Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Volcán Sierra Negra, Isabela Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) San Cristóbal Group	San Cristóbal Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 88)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced cultivated	Glassman, S. F. (1952) (p. 73)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced cultivated	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 127)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 41) Voucher cited: DA 8301
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2003) (voucher ID: PTBG 41003) Taxon name on voucher: Eriobotrya japonica
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 128)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 2830 (PAP) Cultivée. Rare à Tahiti.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 493060) Taxon name on voucher: Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rapa Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 292) Status not known.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 88) Cultivated?
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (year unknown) (voucher ID: BISH 172801) Taxon name on voucher: Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1100) East Maui Escape from cultivation.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Parker, James L./Parsons, Bobby (2012) (p. 72) Voucher cited: J. Parker & R. Parsons BIED146 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy W./Wagner, Warren L. (1995) (p. 49) Voucher cited: D. Lorence et al. 6731 (BISH, MO, PTBG, US) Naturalized in mixed mesic forest and along roadsides.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Lāna‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Oppenheimer, Hank (2007) (p. 31) Voucher cited: Oppenheimer H120644 (BISH, PTBG)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Herbarium Pacificum Staff (1999) (pp. 8-9) East Maui. Voucher cited: C. Imada, W. Har & C. Morden 98-13
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced	Wester, Lyndon (1992) (p. 147)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Frohlich, Danielle/Lau, Alex (2008) (p. 8) Vouchers cited: A. Lau s.n. (BISH 731468), A. Lau s.n. (BISH 731469)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 121) Vouchers cited: Guillaumin 8502, MacKee 14407, MacKee 42526
New Zealand (offshore islands) Kermadec Islands	Raoul Island	introduced cultivated	Sykes, W. R. (1977) (p. 134) Relic of cultivation.
New Zealand (offshore islands) Kermadec Islands	Raoul Island	introduced cultivated	Sykes, W. R./West, C. J. (1996) (p. 460) Died out naturally.
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced cultivated	Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 226) Occasionally plante, but is not established and does not thrive at low altitudes. It promises to be successful at medium and higher altitudes.
Pitcairn Islands Pitcairn Islands	Pitcairn Island	introduced	St. John, H. (1987) (p. 35)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 52) Occasional escape.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 127) Voucher cited: Yuncker 15223 Occasional escape.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1953) (voucher ID: BISH 172798) Taxon name on voucher: Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1989) (voucher ID: PTBG 3900) Taxon name on voucher: Eriobotrya japonica
United States (other Pacific offshore islands) Johnston Atoll	Johnston Island	introduced cultivated	Amerson, A. Binion, Jr./Shelton, Philip C. (1976) (p. 55)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	New South Wales	introduced invasive cultivated	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 159)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced invasive cultivated	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 159)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native cultivated	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Native in Chongqing (Nanchuan Xian), Hubei (Yichang); cultivated in Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Yunnan, Zhejiang.
China China	Hong Kong	introduced cultivated	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (pp. 124-125)
Japan Japan	Japan	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive cultivated	Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. (1988) (p. 1078) "Hillsides, scrub, plantations, wasteland near sites of cultivation".
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 39) Cultivated only
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	introduced cultivated	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Christmas Island Group	Christmas Island	introduced cultivated	Swarbrick, J. T. (1997) (p. 113)
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced invasive	MacDonald, I. A. W./Thebaud, C./Strahm, W. A./Strasberg, D. (1991) (pp. 51-61)
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Lavergne, Christophe (2006) "Cultivé/±envahissant"
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced invasive	Kueffer, C./Lavergne, C. (2004) (p. 5)
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced invasive	Baret, Stephane/Rouget, Mathieu/Richardson, David M./Lavergne, Christophe/Egoh, Benis/Dupont, Joel/Strasberg, Dominique (2006) (p. 758)
French Territory of Mayotte Mayotte Islands	Mayotte Island	introduced cultivated	Comité français de l'Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature en France (2013)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
South Africa South Africa	South Africa (Republic of)	introduced invasive cultivated	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 159)

Comments:  Reported naturalizing at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park (elevation about 5,000 ft.), so probably only a threat at higher elevations on tropical islands (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 1100, 1890).

Control: 

Physical:  "Hand pull or dig small seedlings (all year round). Leave on site to rot down.

Chemical:  1. Ringbark large trees (all year round), leave to die standing.  
2. Cut down big plants close to ground (all year round). Leave on site to rot down.
3. Cut and squirt (all year round): 1 cut /100 mm of trunk, apply 1g metsulferon-methyl 600g/kg per cut. 
4. Spray (spring-summer): metsulferon-methyl 600g/kg (5g/10L)"  (Weedbusters New Zealand).

"Katie Cassel (Kōke‘e Museum) reported application of 20% triclopyr ester product in diesel to cut surfaces effective. The same solution applied basal bark is also effective"  (Motooka et al., 2003).